President Obama’s speech and Speaker Thom Tillis’s remark define the chasm between Democrats and Republicans – and the opening for Governor Perdue in 2012.

Obama talked Tuesday about “investments” that will “win the future.”

Tillis said Wednesday: “I believe government needs to be as small as possible to provide for people’s safety, to provide for education and to provide for infrastructure – and not much else.”

When the inevitable question came – what about health care and human services? – Tillis backtracked: That comes under public safety, he explained. But his point remained: Balance the budget with spending cuts alone.

In 2010, they punished Democrats for spending too much. In 2012, they may punish Republicans for cutting too much – especially after Republicans in Raleigh cut $3 billion-plus and Republicans in Washington try to cut $500 billion.

Right now, those huge numbers mean nothing to people. We have no concept of what they mean.

One comment on “Perdue's Road Back”

To win reelection Gub’ner Dumpl’n is going to have to show a much greater degree of political savy than she’s ever demonstrated before. Having a Republican legislature to use as a foil is ony useful if she knows HOW to use it. I imagine she’s getting plenty of advice from people much smarter than herself (Tony Rand?), but it’s a long way to November 2012 and she’s going to have to make a lot of very tough shots between now and then to have a chance.